20 Best Restaurants in Raleigh
1. SECOND EMPIRE RESTAURANT AND TAVERN RALEIGH
Whether you want to enjoy a romantic dinner, business meeting, or birthday dinner, Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern is the perfect place for you. This restaurant is located at 330 Hillsborough Street and it’s open from Tuesday to Saturday from 05.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
This elegant restaurant got its name from a historic circa 1879 Second Empire House where the restaurant nestles. Here, you can enjoy a three-course menu with various choices of dishes. If you want more casual dining, you can stop by the tavern located within the restaurant.
Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern
2. POOLE'S
Come to Poole’s and enjoy seasonal comfort food in a retro-chic setting. You can visit this restaurant at 426 S McDowell Street and it’s open from 04.00 p.m. to 08.00 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and from 04.00 p.m. until 09.00 on Friday and Saturday.
Poole’s is a restaurant that has a history dating back to 1945 as a pie shop. Today, this restaurant is a place where you can enjoy a good meal in a warm atmosphere. Besides the many tasty foods they offer, Poole’s also serves cocktails to make your dining experience even more complete.
Poole's, Raleigh
3. BREWERY BHAVANA, RALEIGH
If you like drinking, then you should check out Brewery Bhavana while you’re in Raleigh. You can visit this restaurant at 218 South Blount Street and it’s open for dinner only from Wednesday to Saturday. Meanwhile, on Sunday Brewery Bhavana is open for lunch and dinner.
Brewery Bhavana has 10 core beers, provisional beers, and wood-aged beers they produced themselves. Besides beers, Brewery Bhavana also offers Asian dishes that you can have with your beers, such as dim sum, fried rice, pecking duck, lo mein noodles, and many more.
Brewery Bhavana
4. FIRST WATCH RALEIGH
Fill your stomach with a healthy breakfast before you start your day at First Watch. You can find this café at 6109 Glenwood Avenue. Since First Watch is a café chain, you can also find it in other locations in Raleigh. First Watch is open seven days a week from 07.00 a.m. to 02.30 p.m.
From egg breakfast, omelets, sandwiches, toasts, salads, and pancakes, you can enjoy them all here. Besides the health-conscious meals, First Watch also serves many options of drinks to pair with your meal, including coffee, juice, and tea.
First Watch Raleigh
5. BIDA MANDA RALEIGH
If you’ve never tasted the excellence of Laotian dishes before, then it’s the right time for you to come to Bida Manda, a Laotian restaurant that is located at 222 South Blount Street. Bida Manda opens its door for the customers from 05.00 to 10.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday and from 05.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Once you stepped through the door, you will be welcomed in a warmly lit space decorated with natural sticks and wood. In this space, you can enjoy many kinds of Laotian that will take you on a journey of Laos’ food tradition and culture.
Bida Manda
6. ANGUS BARN
Treat yourself to a fancy steak dinner at Angus Barn that is located at 9401 Glenwood Avenue. Angus Barn is open seven days a week and available for dinner only. Once you entered Angus Barn, you will be welcomed in a barnlike space with stunning chandeliers.
Angus Barn is an upscale steakhouse that serves American-style cuisine, including in-house aged steaks, fresh seafood, homemade desserts, as well as fresh vegetables that are sourced locally. Angus Barn also features an exceptional wine cellar, cigar bar, and lounge.
Angus Barn
7. CRAWFORD AND SON
Crawford and Son is a dinner spot located in historic Oakwood, approximately at 618 North Person Street. This restaurant is open from 05.00 p.m. until 10.00 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. Here, you will be served with different kinds of dishes, from the expected to the unexpected.
While you’re dining at Crawford and Son, prepare yourself to be surprised by the amazing flavor of the dishes. From Seared Monkfish, Roasted Pork Chop, to Charred Hanger Steak, all the dishes here are made from high-quality ingredients and guarantee to please your palates.
Crawford and Son
8. THE CAPITAL GRILLE, RALEIGH
The Capital Grille is another great steakhouse in Raleigh where you can treat yourself with tasty classic American fares. You can visit this restaurant in North Hills, approximately at 4242 Six Forks Road and it’s open from Monday to Friday from lunchtime to dinnertime, and for dinner only on the weekend.
Besides appetizing steak and meat dishes such as bone-in dry-aged NY strips, bone-in prime ribeye, and filet mignon, The Capital Grille also offers other dishes made from seafood, including seared citrus glazed salmon, sushi-grade seared sesame tuna, and pan-seared sea bass with miso butter.
The Capital Grille Raleigh
9. SAINT JACQUES
Another great eating spot in Raleigh that serves excellent French fares is Saint Jacques that is located in North Ridge Shopping center, approximately at 6112 Falls of Neuse Road. You can visit this restaurant from Tuesday to Saturday from 05.00 p.m. until 10.00 p.m.
Saint Jacques is a French restaurant that serves many options of French dishes made from high-quality local ingredients. From summer ratatouille, duck magret, octopus, filet au poivre, to boeuf bourguinon, Saint Jacques provide the guests with the best experience possible.
Saint Jacques, Raleigh
10. REY'S RESTAURANT
Go to Rey’s Restaurant and satisfy yourself with New Orleans-influenced Continental fares at Rey’s Restaurant. You can visit this restaurant at 1130 Buck Jones Road and it’s open from 04.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and from 04.00 p.m. to 09.00 p.m. on Sunday.
The restaurant that has been open since 2004 is a place where you can comfortably enjoy many great dishes in a relaxed space and warm atmosphere. One more reason to check out Rey’s Restaurant is the Voodoo Lounge where you can enjoy a glass of martini accompanied by a live music performance.
Rey's Restaurant
11. SITTI, RALEIGH
If you’ve never tasted Lebanese cuisine before, then it’s the perfect time for you to come to Sitti to enjoy modern Lebanese dishes. Sitti is located at 137 S Wilmington Street and you can dine here from 11.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Once you stepped through the door, you will be welcomed in an airy space with a communal table and art deco bar. Here, you can order many choices of modern Lebanese dishes, including Sitti Sayadieh, Kibbej Nayyeh, Warak Anab, Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers, and many more.
Sitti
12. BEASLEY'S CHICKEN + HONEY
Stuffed yourself with Southern fares and fried chicken & waffles at Beasley’s Chicken + Honey that is located at 237 South Wilmington Street. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey opens its door for the customers from Thursday to Monday from lunchtime until dinnertime.
From fried chicken with honey, pork shoulder meatloaf, chicken pot pie, to crispy Carolina catfish, Beasley’s Chicken + Honey serves many great meals to satisfy your hunger. For the drinks, this restaurant also offers choices of drink options, such as soda pop, wines, beers, and champagne.
Beasley's Chicken + Honey
13. STANBURY
Come to Stanbury and treat yourself to a plate of creating New American fare in a warm and bustling atmosphere. You can find this restaurant at 938 North Blount Street and it’s open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday.
Stanbury is a spot where the community comes together to enjoy their meal, it’s a restaurant that focuses on integrating and highlighting the local products. So, at Stanbury, there’s no question about the quality and taste of the dishes, such as seared scallops, pork chop Milanese, grilled ribeye, and many others.
Stanbury
14. THE FICTION KITCHEN
If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, then The Fiction Kitchen is heaven for you. You can visit the Fiction Kitchen at 428 South Dawson Street and it’s open from 04.30 p.m. to 09.00 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday.
The Fiction Kitchen is a restaurant that serves globally inspired dishes made from high-quality and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Here, you can enjoy many options of vegan and vegetarian dishes, including vegan Eastern-style bbq, peanut noodle bowl, vegan meatloaf, vegan crispy fried chicken and waffles, and many more.
The Fiction Kitchen
15. A PLACE AT THE TABLE
Add more value to your dining experience by dining at A Place at the Table, which is Raleigh’s first pay-what-you-can café that is located in Hue, approximately at 300 West Hargett Street #50. You can dine at this café from Tuesday to Sunday from 08.00 a.m. to 02.00 p.m.
Here, customers are provided several options to pay, such as pay the suggested price, pay at least $3 for the food they eat, pay using a Token, and pay by volunteering. In addition, you can also pay it forward for other people in need. A Place at the Table also offers gluten-free, vegetarian, as well as vegan menus.
A Place at the Table
16. 42ND STREET OYSTER BAR
Treat yourself to the freshest seafood in town at 42nd Street Oyster Bar, one of the South’s most famous landmark restaurants located at 508 West Jones Street. This restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner only.
At 42nd Street Oyster Bar, you will be served with the highest quality food and drinks that are made from locally sourced ingredients. From Shrimp & Grits, Jumbo Lump Crab cakes, Cioppino, to Pan Seared #1 Hawaiian Ahi Tuna, 42nd Street Oyster Bar will gladly provide their guests with the best dining experience possible.
42nd Street Oyster Bar, Raleigh
17. THE COWFISH SUSHI BURGER BAR
Taste the best sushi in town at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar that is located at 4208 Six Forks Road Suite 100. You can dine here from Sunday to Thursday from 11.00 a.m. to 09.30 p.m. and from 11.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Here, you can enjoy mouthwatering burgers, sushi, and fusion foods, such as Blackened Tuna Nachos, Fusion Specialty Bento Box, and many other Japanese dishes. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar also offers an extensive list of beverages, which consist of spiked shakes, handcrafted cocktails, martinis, beers, wine, and sake.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, Raleigh
18. GUASACA AREPA & SALSA GRILL
Come to Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill to taste the best Latin American dishes in town. You can find Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill at 4025 Lake Boone Trail #107 and it’s open seven days a week from 11.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m.
As the name suggests, Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill serves custom-made arepas, bowls, as well as salads. While you’re here, don’t miss out to try their signature arepas, such as grilled chicken, crispy chicken, mechada or beef, braised tilapia, avocado chicken, vegetarian, salmon, and many more that are guarantee to satisfy your appetite.
Guasaca Arepa & Salsa Grill, Raleigh
19. FLYING BISCUIT CAFé - RALEIGH NC
Another great restaurant in Raleigh that serves Southern cuisine is Flying Biscuit Café that is located in Village District, approximately at 2016 Clark Avenue. This restaurant is open for business seven days a week from 07.00 a.m. to 09.00 p.m.
Besides Southern cuisines, Flying Biscuit Café also serves an all-day breakfast menu to satisfy your hunger, such as Meggxican Wrap, Chorizo Hash, Flat Iron Steak and Eggs, Turkey Hash, and many more. To accompany your meal, Flying Biscuit Café also has an amazing drink menu to quench your thirst.
Flying Biscuit Café - Raleigh NC
20. IRREGARDLESS CAFé
Enjoy a plate of globally-inspired food complete with a live music performance at Irregardless Café. You can visit Irregardless Café at 901 West Morgan Street and it’s open from Tuesday to Friday for dinner only, and for, brunch, lunch, and dinner on the weekend.
At Irregardless Café, you will find many options of dishes, including vegan and vegetarian options to please your palate. Besides delicious foods, Irregardless Café is a place to showcase the works of talented local artists. So, not only an exceptional dining experience, Irregardless Café is also a place where you can enjoy two forms of art at the same time.
Irregardless Cafe
